Surveying instrument



Nov. 21, 1950 A. N. BRUNSON 2,531,252

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT Filed July 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zinncntor Amber .44 Emmsa/z MM ,WM

mtomegs NQV. 21, 1950 BRUNSQN 2,531,252

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT Filed July 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 limp 3nnentor flmber N 5/21/25 on.

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(Ittornegs Patented Nov. 21, 1950 253L252 2,531,252 SmWEYr-m; INSTRUMENT Amber Bronson, Independence; Mo.- fipfiiieasim idly 2'4; 1947', iiefiaif 1%; $2363 E GI-imm (01133-46) i 2 th'pres'ent invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing e whereini Fig; I is a: side elevation of at surveying inistru merit embodying the features of my inventiom A I 7 portions being broken a wai' to illustrate the j'list'nient' at 51-1 flim-i W ig ly pre i ion mounting ofv the sitandards on the base. meas uremrite' e obtfiifid. Tiuiiiiion axis Fig; 2 is a; vertical sectional view through the ti'hififitfi 'I'nu'S't be con; 1' telescope triiiiriion mountings takeh on the line Fig} 3 a? terti'car Sectional View thioughthe bririg mounting" teikefr 611* the line 3 3; Fig. 2".-

Fig) 4 is a; vertical "sectional view throng-lithe trio'z'mion olalfmi me'hanism taken on the line" l d', Fig; 2;

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

This" invention relatsto' improvements in survyi'ng inst-h?imlei its am more particularly to bearings and in rigsfor teleseopes and the like suc are" lisedin t sin-d the like;

Portable mtmmentg etch 5e trarieits are um ifileIfint-Weathef; inifig accurate" 22d rotate a out ai man 1 without ioosenees or f'alise' iiiotior'l w an intiodu'eeserious ef ort- 'fi fififi have fi i to construct I deeignaites' a: surveying instrument such as t'e l s'coii tiiiniiion xis' be'irifigs" trial-twill pro transit or the like which includes 23 telescope Vi'de th'S i'qiiii v its? 7 not QZIIOW p'liLS 2, carried by standards" 3 and 4 figidlir mounted and/oi rolling of the tr oi other iiitroas by screws 5 on an upper plate 6 which is se diiotion of errors emfits being made; cured; as at l, to the upper end of a spindle: 8 Split eatings of Vaii types mpable of 2Jd= rotatably mounted on antif'rietion orothersu-it justmeiit to taik we" lfilv" been used but able bearings 9 iri a levelin'g'heel'd IE9.- The level uoh adust'men ai e difiidiilffi' and can be made 2f ing head NJ is supported on a; foot plate H by a s'atnractormr only by highly skilled instiiiment plurality of leveling screws 12 for adjustifig'th 'ifieche'tni'csz Therefore; su'h beiirintjs' have not position of the leveling head 23nd instrument for teen Gap e' of a'hi'e iig' the long lasting? 95oeu= an horizontal positions of the: tel'seope "as indi'- may desirable in "silcii instruments.- dated by the spirit level I3 suitably mounted on The objects of the present; invention are: to the instrument as on the" lower side of the teleiiiovid a fi'ioiiiitifig" for" the telescope of a; Stir scope as illustrated in Fig. 1. Rotatasbly'moun ted veyir-ig' instrument ie'by gie'lter ttooiiibloy it in the leveling head I i! is a sleeve M carrying at ficiir'ed"; to provide ti"- novel mounting for the lower iiate l5; clamping tinge I6 and I! being telescope ti 'iihriio'i'is of ii surveying instrument; provided for controlling rotation of the instruto provide a'j tlesope" iiidiifitiiig that eliminates I'nent about thevertieal axis", said clamping rings possibility of ltioseiiess or flliie movements and being provided with clamp screw assemblies [8 ie not aifeted by exp micn and contraction, reand I9, and slow motion assemblies 29' and 2t; inli'nir'ig accurate and permitting free turning a't Mounted on the upper plate between the tai'idall te'rhpei atiiregto pfovi'de ztsril'cl, dust-proof, ards and coaxial with the spindle 8' is a; @0111 lubrie ted, afiti'fii'fiofi b'al' mounting for the paISs 22. telescope trunnion assuring a iii-20y for a long The standards 3 and 4' extend upwardly from period of use wi h- "libtifitia y no adjustments the upper plate 6 and terminate "attheir upper 61'" fid-tteritionj to iii vide- 9t control of tl'ifree ends'in baring supporting heads 23 2'41, ses'i'd movement of the tl'sfi ti tini ii'dns without zil= bearing heads preferably being of similar Stine: tialtion of th beaiii ig inoiiiitirig" or adjustment; tune. The heads 23 and 2d contain reotanguljar to provide a. positive clamp for appivmg' friction openings 25 having an open top adapted: to re* of the triin'ri-ioii for selectively preventing rooe'ive bearing blocks 26 and: 21 in the standards" tfitioii thereof the beiiririg's jto provide verti 3 and 4' respectively. The lov'ver ends of the 6:11 "adjiietihhtof the trunnion ie; find to pm bearing blocks-'- are preferably reoteihgliiar' in vid in striicti ii of this chartei a sturdy, ef- Shape, having sidefa'ces- 23 and 29; and a; fiat fieient pr on instrument having free move bottom face 30 the faces 28* and 29 being spaced. inept,- maxim "in 'ieu' "hey for iongperiods with to provide a snug engagement thereof. with the sidefaces' 31 and 32 of the openings- 25 to prevent any letter-a1 play between: the blocks and head The upper portion of the bearing blocks is prefifi eld use iifieler EH 6 d onS erably of semicylindrical shape, as at 33, and projecting outwardly from the blocks, preferably above the axis thereof, are ears 34 and 35 extending beyond the sides of the openings 25 and having apertures 36 provided with a counterhore 31 for receiving the shank 38 and head 39 of preferably roundheaded cap screws 49, the threaded shank of the cap screws being adapted to be threaded into a threaded bore 4| in the bearing supporting head to draw the bearing blocks downwardly on said head, the heads 39 preferably being a close fit in the counterbores 31 for assisting in retaining the bearing blocks against any undesirable movement.

The bearing blocks 26 and 2! are preferably of substantially the same length as the heads 23 and 24, and are provided with bores 42 and counterbores 43 to provide a shoulder 44 adjacent the inner ends of the bearin blocks. The bores 43 are of suitable size to receive the outer race 45 of antifriction bearings 46, said bearings being pressed into engagement with the shoulder 44. The inner races 41 of said antifriction bearings are adapted to receive spindles 48 of trunnion members 49 and 58, said trunnion members having an enlarged portion forming a shoulder with the spindle 48 for engagement with the inner race 41 of the antifriction bearings, said enlarged portion 5| extending through the bore 42 of the bearing blocks and having sli ht clearance therein. The trunnions 49 and 59 are also provided with an enlarged portion 53 forming a shoulder adapted to substantially engage the inner face 54 of the bearing blocks. The inner ends of the trunnion members 49 and 50 are preferably provided with shanks 55 adapted to extend into bores 56 of bosses 51 and 58 of a telescope mounting member 59, said trunnion members 49 and 58 being provided with shoulders 69 spaced from the shoulders 54 and adapted to be en a ed by outer faces 6| of flanges 62 on the trunnion mounting member 59, said trunnion mounting member being provided with a bore 63 perpendicular to the axis of the trunnions 49 and 59 for receiving the telescope 2 which is rigidly secured therein.

Collars 64 are sleeved on the spindles 48 and engaged by heads 65 of scre s having shanks 66 threadedly engaged in threaded bores 61 of said spindles, said screws a plying pressure to the collar longitudinally of the spindles to ret in the inner race of the bearings on the spindles and in engagement with the shoulde s 52. The collars 64 are also provided with a flange 68 for retaining a resilient seal member 69 in enga ement r with the inner and outer races of the bearings to provide an outer seal therefor.

To further provide a seal for the bearings and eliminate all possibility of dirt entering same, closure members 19. of lar er diameter than the bore 43 of the bearing blocks, are applied to said blocks whereby the closure members en age the outer face II thereof, said closure members preferably being secured to the bearing blocks by means of inwardly projecting flanges 12 having an annular boss 13 thereon adapted to engage in an annular groove 14 provided in the bores 43 of the bearing blocks adjacent the outer face H thereof. The cover members may also be provided with threaded openings adapted to beclosed by screws 16 to provide access through the bearing enclosures without removing the cover member if desired, The openings 15 also provide access for suitable tools, such as a screw driver; for engaging the slot in the head 65 of the screw,

, cylindrical portion 33 of the bearing block 26,

said vertical circle being suitably secured to the standard and bearing blocks by screws 82 or the like. Suitably mounted on the enlarged portion 53 of the trunnion member 49 is a vertical limb 83 having a graduated scale 84 mounted thereon adapted to be read in cooperation with a Vernier 85 mounted on said standard to indicate the degree of elevation of a telescope.

It is desirable that the telescope have free movement for fast adjustment to the approximate angle of elevation desired and then have positive control over any roll of the trunnions to provide a fine adjustment to the exact elevation without possibility of further movement after the setting has been obtained. In order to provide such control a clamping mechanism 85 is applied to the trunnion member 59. This mechanism eonsistsof a collar 86, substantially the width of the spacing between the outer face of the flange-62 and theinner face 54 of the bearing block Z'L-said collar having a bore 81 which is a close running fit on the enlarged portion 53 of the trunnion member 59, and a counterbore 88 preferably opening into the collar from side adjacentthe-bearing block 21. The bore 8'! cooperates with a flange 62 on the boss 58 to substantially close one end of said bore. The counterbore 88 preferably contains the seal member H for the bearing block 21, said seal member 11 being spaced from the flange 62 substantia l the same distance as the width of the enlarged portion 53 of the trunnion member 50.

Extending laterally of the collar 86 is a boss 99 having a threaded bore 9| therein for receiving a clamp screw 92 having a tapered end 93 adapted to engage a follower 94 slidable in a counterbore 95 at the inner end of the threaded bore 9!. The follower has an arcuate face 96 adapted to engage the enlarged portion 53 of the trunnion 59. Threading the screw 92 into the boss 99 willapply pressure to the follower 94 forcing the face 96 thereof into clamping engagement with the trunnion 50 to substantially clamp and lock the collar 86 to the trunnion member. Tbecollar 86 is provided with an outwardly projecting arm 91 having engagement with an car 98 on the standard 4 through a slow motion assembly 99 for providing a fine adjustment t the position of the telescope. Backing off the screw 92 will release the follower 94 from engagement with the trunnion 59 and permit complete freedom of movement of the trunnions and telescope relative to the arm 96 and slow motion assembly.

It is necessary that the bearing on one standard may be adjusted in a vertical direction to render the axis of the trunnion perpendicular to the vertical axis of the instrument. To provide for such adjustment bearing supporting heads 23 and'24 are provided with-threaded apertures. I08 and lfll forreceiving the threaded shank I92 of a screw I 03, said shank H12 being adapteclte extend through. a t readed berea lateral movement, means for securing the bearing blocks to the standards against shifting movement, means cooperating with the securing means for adjusting one of the bearing blocks vertically, antifriction bearings each including a relatively rotatable outer ring member and inner ring member having a space therebetween for accommodating rolling elements, said outer ring members being mounted in the bearing bores and engaging the bearing supporting flanges therein, means carrying an instrument, trunnions on said carrying means extending through the axis of the inner ring members for mounting same thereon, said trunnions having shoulders engaging the adjacent faces of the bearing blocks, shoulders on the trunnions for engaging the adjacent side faces of the inner ring members, resilient seal members in engagement with the inner and outer ring members forming a seal for the space therebetween, seal rings on the trunnions engaging adjacent faces of the bearing blocks, and cap members having flanges engaging the bores of the bearing blocks to close the outer ends thereof.

5. In a surveying instrument, a support including spaced standards, bearing blocks mounted on the upper end of said standards, said bearing blocks each having a bore therein and an inwardly extending bearing supporting flange, said standards and bearing blocks having cooperating guide surfaces for restricting the blocks against lateral movement, means for securing the bearing blocks to the standards against shifting movement, means cooperating with the securing means for adjusting one of the bearing blocks Vertically, antifriction bearings each including a relatively 3 rotatable outer ring member and inner ring member having a space therebetween for accommodating rolling elements, said outer ring members being mounted in the bearing bores and engaging the bearing supporting flanges therein, means carrying an instrument, trunnions on said carrying means extending through the axis of the inner ring members for mounting same thereon, said trunnions having shoulders engaging the adjacent faces of th bearing blocks, shouders on the trunnions for engaging the ad jacent side faces of the inner ring members, resilient seal members in engagement with the inner and outer ring members forming a seal for the space therebetween, seal rings on the trunnions engaging adjacent faces of the bearing blocks, annular ribs on the adjacent faces of the bearing blocks engaging the seal rings on the trunnions for further sealing the openings into the bearing block bores, and cap members having flanges engaging in the bores of the bearing blocks to close the outer ends thereof.

AMBER N. BRUNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,003,419 Berger Sept. 19, 1911 1,136,883 Lietz Apr. 20, 1915 1,758,667 Hughes May 13, 1930 1,952,525 Arms Mar. 27, 1934 2,320,794 Pew June 1, 1943 

